There are so many places to buy pre-loved luxury goods. Buying pre-owned is great for saving hundreds if not THOUSANDS of dollars on something a designer bag that would have cost you so much more when buying new. It’s daunting nowadays with how many places there are to buy and sell, PLUS the constant worry of unknowingly buying a counterfeit item.
In this post, I review a few sites and apps I’ve used to sell used designer handbags and accessories. I also offer tips for buying and selling, from an expert that’s spent 8 years working in online luxury resale (surprise, it’s me!).
Where I Buy Pre-Owned Designer Handbags
Yoogi’s Closet, based in Seattle, WA, is my go-to for buying pre-loved luxury. They authenticate all items in-house and provide all kinds of details about every item–from the year it was made to every flaw on the bag. As far as pictures and descriptions go, they are THE BEST. Every angle, every nook and cranny is shown and discussed in their descriptions–which I really appreciate when I’m buying something that’s thousands of dollars online. They often current list Like New Louis Vuitton products for 15% off, plus no tax if you live outside of Washington State.
Every item in their store comes with an AUTHENTICITY PROMISE, and if you have any doubts, you can just return it, no questions asked. In addition, their customer service is outstanding and I’ve had responses within MINUTES from their customer service. Most of my handbag collection is from Yoogi’s Closet and I love the variety of rare and limited edition bags on this site.
Also, join Yoogi’s email list for $75 off your first purchase over $500. I design all their email campaigns, so I’m obviously bias, but I do genuinely believe and support this company.
Fashionphile, based in Carlsbad, CA, is one of my favorite places to browse bags–they truly have the best selection of luxury goods. Their prices are a little high sometimes, but their selection makes them standout because you can find something you really love. I had a good experience buying my Louis Vuitton Alma BB from them, and I LOVE their social media account. They show all the “behind the scenes” of their business, which is like handbag heaven. Of all these reselling businesses, I believe Fashionphile is the oldest—they started selling on Ebay in 2003. I’ve never sold to Fashionphile but I usually get a quote from them when looking to sell.
Bag Borrow or Steal might sound familiar from the Sex and The City Movie, where Louise rents her Louis Vuitton, but BBOS does more than just deisgner handbag rentals. Bag Borrow or Steal also sells pre-owned bags at a discounted price. They have sales on Chanel and Louis Vuitton items regularly, so make sure to sign up for their email list too.
Rebag is a newer player on the block, but they show a lot of promise for the future of resale, backed by private equity firms. Rebag purchases luxury handbags from their owners and resells them online and in boutiques in New York and Los Angeles. Their prices are usually lower than some of the other sites I’ve listed here. Plus, their branding is great.
TheRealReal is somewhere I’ve never purchased from, but I really, really like their website. They have a HUGE variety of items from handbags to clothes to fine jewelry and home decor. It seems like every time I try to shop on their site I get so overwhelmed at everything they have available that I just give up. But that said, they provide detailed information and photography for every listing, along with a heavy focus on authenticity.
Peer-to-Peer Buying and Selling
Tradesy is an app and website I’ve both bought and sold from. This is a peer-to-peer marketplace, similar to Craigslist or Facebook marketplace, but targeted toward higher-end luxury goods. I have sold a Michael Kors bag, Chanel sunglasses and purchased Tom Ford sunglasses on Tradesy.
Of the two main p2p apps, I have had the best luck selling on Tradesy, plus I really like their selling user interface. The Tradesy Commission fee is 19.8% plus an additional small fee that they call a “safe transfer fee” of 2.9%. For an additional cut of your payment, Tradesy offers three shipping options for sellers:
- Tradesy sends you a Shipping Kit with a Tradesy branded box, dust bag or polybag and shipping label–that way, when your buyer receives the item, it’s packaged really nicely in a Tradesy box. If you elect this option, they charge the buyer for this fee but it comes out of your final payout.
- Print a pre-paid label and ship using your own materials. If you elect this option, they charge the buyer for this fee but it comes out of your final payout.
- Use your own materials and submit tracking once you ship.
Poshmark is another peer-to-peer marketplace and app. I’ve listed items on Poshmark and was pleasantly surprised with the ease of their app and the social component of it. I’ve been buying and selling items on Poshmark in the last six months and I am consistently impressed with it. For selling, you put in all the info you know about your item (not just luxe items, but you can also sell items like Lululemon or Coach) and decide the list price. They take a small cut of the sale but they provide you with a free shipping label. Shoppers can make an offer on your items. Poshmark offers Posh Authenticate for any luxury items over $500. Use code BECCARISA to get $5 off your first purchase.
Facebook Buy & Sell Groups
Recently, I started using Facebook groups for researching, buying and selling. You can make the most money by selling in these groups, but there is a larger risk of getting scammed. There are groups for every designer, but the LV and Chanel groups are the ones I browse the mot. I was able to sell a Louis Vuitton Epi Petit Noe for almost exactly what I paid for it, and a vintage Chanel Camera Case for a small profit. When you post an item for sale in a group, Facebook can post it on Facebook Marketplace so you may get messages from people in your local area too! If you do buy or sell in a FB group, USE PAYPAL.
Louis Vuitton Addicted – Buy Sell & Chat
Chanel Addicted – Buy Sell & Chat
You can also post ISO (in search of) posts with a budget included and people will comment with similar items for sale. Many members are also active in other handbag groups and on Instagram. An added benefit is that you can connect with lots of handbag loving folks too, and maybe even make some friends!
Tips For Buying Pre-Owned Designer Bags Online
Think about it like you’re buying a used car. You may have to tweak some of your expectations to get exactly what you want.
- Set your budget.
- Got a bag in mind already? Use Google Search or any of the sites I listed above to find it for sale. You should check for price, condition, and what the bag comes with (tags, box, dustbag).
- Not sure what bag you have in mind? Send me an email and I’ll help you find one 🙂 Look on Pinterest for the style you want–shoulders bags/clutches, etc. Look at Instagram Hashtags for ideas, i.e. #LouisVuittonSpeedy will bring up over 100k of posts featuring Speedy bags.
- Do your research. If the bag is current, how much does the bag sell for at full retail? My rule of thumb for current styles is that if I’m not getting more than 20% off retail, it’s not worth it to buy pre-owned. If the bag isn’t a current style, how much did it sell for when it was in stores, and how much is the same bag selling for on other sites? Is it a rare/limited edition item?
- You can and should have the bag authenticated from a third-party, even if the website or reseller promises authenticity. Fakes and replicas are insanely good and can fool even the most well-trained authenticator. Try RealAuthentication.com or authenticatefirst.com.
Tips For Selling Designer Bags Online
- Know some basic information about your item: the proper style name, date code/serial number, year it was made, original retail price, etc. This will help you get a better quote or more money for it. If you have questions about how to identify your bag, let me know in the comments and I’m happy to help.
- Take a lot of photos of your item. The more angles, the better. Make sure to get a picture of any logos, labels, or tags on or inside the bag.
- Describe the condition of the bag. Accurate descriptions can help the buyer know exactly what they’re getting or for the company you’re trying to sell to give you the most accurate quote. The bottom corners and handles carry the most wear, so be sure to look those over and describe any wear and tear.
- Get a few quotes from a variety of places. You may find that one site gives you a better quote but wants you to pay for your own shipping, and another pays for shipping and offers you added benefits like getting more money if you opt for payment in store credit.
- If you decide to sell through a FB Group, I recommend using PayPal because they can help you if something shady happens. If you’re selling, make sure you take pictures of every step of the shipping process and create an invoice for your records.
Do you buy pre-loved handbags? Where do you buy your handbags from? Would you carry a used bag or do you only buy new? Let me know in the comments.
Disclaimer: This post contains affiliates links and I may collect a tiny commission if you click on those links. I am affiliated with Yoogi’s Closet, but all opinions are my own.
Becca Luna 
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